A man’s heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps”—Pro. 16:9
What, though before me it is dark,
Too dark for one to see?
I ask but light for one stop more
‘Tis quite enough for me.
Each little humble step I take,
The gloom clears from the next;
So, though ‘tis very dark beyond,
I never am perplex’d.
And if sometimes the mist hangs close,
So close, I fear to stray,
Patient, I wait a little while,
And soon it clears away.
I would not see my further path,
For mercy veils it so;
My present steps might harder be
Did I the future know.
It may be that my path is rough,
Thorny, and hard, and steep;
And knowing this, my strength might fail
Through fear and terror deep.
It may be that it winds along
A smooth and flowery way;
But seeing this, I might despise
The journey of to-day.
Perhaps my path is very short,
My journey nearly done;
And I might tremble at the thought
Of ending it so soon.
Or, if I saw a weary length
Of road that I must wend,
Fainting I’d think “ my feeble powers
Will fail me ere the end.”
And so I do not wish to see
My journey, or its length:
Assured that, through my Father’s love,
Each step will bring its strength.
Thus, step by step, I onward go,
Not looking far before;
Trusting that I shall always have
Light for just “ one step more.”